Sally Phillips reflects on identity through portrait painting
Actor and comedian Sally Phillips agreed to sit for a portrait by artist Caroline de Peyrecave, not anticipating the emotional depth that would emerge from the experience, reports BritPanorama.
Upon viewing the finished painting, Phillips expressed a profound connection to the work. “Oh, it’s definitely me,” she remarked, visibly moved. “You are so clever. I suppose a lot of my career is me not being me. Even the me you see on the red carpet isn’t me. So this is a lot more exposing.”
Phillips, known for her roles in Smack the Pony, Miranda, and the Bridget Jones films, shared insights about her career trajectory. Initially stepping into comedy during a time dominated by men, she finds herself often representing the no-nonsense sidekick. “I feel like the decoy bride rather than the actual bride. I’m the pound shop version,” she quipped, reflecting on her role in the 2011 film The Decoy Bride.
The portrait was created in de Peyrecave’s Surrey garden studio, filled with paintings and eclectic props. This marked Phillips’ second experience being painted, the first occurring during her childhood while her family relocated frequently due to her father’s work. “They had portraits painted of their children ‘so they could remember us.’ But in the paintings, we looked so unhappy,” she recalled.
Titled “Am I Funny?”, Phillips’s portrait is featured in the exhibition Empowering Her, held at London’s Green & Stone Gallery in support of UN Women UK. De Peyrecave’s series highlights influential women, confronting societal undervaluation through powerful representation.
De Peyrecave chose her sitters based on their achievements and personal connections, believing women artists and subjects have historically been overlooked. “As a comedian, Sally is in a space that for a long time didn’t welcome women – men are meant to be the funny ones,” de Peyrecave explained.
The painting captures Phillips elegantly dressed, filled with personal symbolism. Objects from her life include a childhood doll and references to her work in Smack the Pony. “I had a feminist mother who wouldn’t let me have a Barbie,” Phillips shared, looking back at her upbringing.
Phillips’s narrative also reflects her experiences as a mother to three neurodivergent sons, including Olly, who has Down’s syndrome. The portrait includes odd socks, signifying both domesticity and a celebration of World Down Syndrome Day. “Life comes and gets us all with different challenges… humour makes it all better,” she stated, expressing pride in her advocacy for the Down’s syndrome community.
Reflecting on her public persona, Phillips allowed the portrait session to deepen her understanding of her image. “It’s a celebration of you,” de Peyrecave articulated, highlighting the uniqueness of capturing one’s spirit beyond physical likeness.
Empowering Her is at The Gallery at Green & Stone, London SW3 until 14 March.
